Hydrant-draining device



L. T. BUCKLER. HYDRANT DRAINING DEVICE- Pawntei 0311.. 24, 1922.

APPLICATION F ILED MAY 22, I320- i atented @et, 24%, 1922.

HYDRANT-DRAINING- DEVICE.

Application filed. May 22,

T alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEON T.-BUGKLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydrant-Draining Devices, of which the following is a specification.

It is well known that exposed hydrants and especially fire hydrants often freeze after having been used during cold weather and are again unfit for use until they have been thawed out. This freezing is due to the fact that after use some vwater remains in the case or body portion ofthe hydrant and since this water has no open passageway tovget out, it soon freezes.

One object of my invention is to provide a device which can be readily attached to hydrants of the above type and which will act to automatically drain said water from the hydrant casing to prevent freezing.

Another object is to make the device of my invention of a simple and durable construction and so that it can be easily and quickly made and attached to a hydrant.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in \VhlCh'f" Figure 1 is an elevational view of a fire hydrant, partly in section, and having myinvention applied thereto,

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the constructive features of my invention, t

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one of the parts of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, 4 represents a fire hydrant which may be of any well known form having an outlet branch 7 above the ground level 8. A casing 9 depends into the ground in the usual manner; said casing being hollow and it is the interior of this casing which becomes filled with water after use of the hydrant as above described.

. In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated I provide a nipple 10 which has a hollow screw threaded stem 11 which is adapted to be screwed. into a tapped hole 12 in the side ofthe casing 9 adjacent the bottom thereof. In other words in attaching 1920. Serial No. 383,349.

the nipple 10 a screw threaded hole is first formed in the casing 9 and the nipple 10 is screwed therein as clearly shown in F igures 1 and 2. The inner end of the nipple 10 has a battle 13 in the form of a tongue and this tongue, when the nipple 10 is properly positioned, extends from the bottom of the nipple upwardly at an incline to a position above the top of the passage it provided by the nipple 10.

A. valve casing 15 has a screw threaded stem 16 which fits within a screw threaded portion of the passage 14: of the nipple 10. This valve casing has a substantially horizontal passage 17 which communicates with the passage 14 and with a substantially vertical passage 18. The passage 18 extends upwardly through a screw threaded cap securing stem 19; said stem having a removable cap 20 screwed thereon as clearly shown in Figure 2. A disk valve 21 of comparatively great diameter is adapted to normally rest upon the top of the stem 19 and cover the top of the vertical passage 18. The valve 21 has a depending valve rod 22 of comparatively small diameter which preferably extends through a guiding spider 23 so as to keep the rodcentral. The lower end of the valve rod 22 is tapered and fits a valve Seat 24: provided at the top of a drain duct 25; said duct being of small diameter compared to the diameter of the passage 18. A cou pling pipe 26 is screwed into the valve casing 15 and communicates with the drain duct 25.

The cap '20 normally provides a space 27 above the top ofthe disk valve .21 so that under operative conditions the disk valve 21 can be raised to open the drain duct 25 to the passage 17.

The baffle 13 actually provides a cup or trough tapering downwardly from its top to, the passage 14 and in actual practice I have found that upon the use of the hydrant the water which passes upwardly through the casing 9 does not interfere with or raise the valve rod 22. When the hydrant is shut 01? the water which remains within the casing 9 will flow downwardly into the pocket provided by the baifie 13, thence through the passages 14 and 17, upwardly through the passage 18 to raise the disk valve and consequently the valve rod 22, to permit the water to drain through the drain duct 25 and pipe 26. The pipe 26 is preferably connected to the sewer so hat he Wa th e hy rant Casing will drain quickly to a level below the ground level 8 and thereby prevent the hydrant from freezing. The comparatively large area of the disk valve 21 which is exposed to the water will enable the valve rod 21 to be held up into an open position during the entire time in which the water is draining from the hydrant. After the pressure of the water has diminished due to the fact that the greater portion of the ater has drained from the hydrant, the disk valve will drop and the valve rOd 22 will close against the seat 24- and form a seal preventing any gases or the like from working back out of the sewer.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as no and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is 1. The combination with a hydrant having a casing in which water remains after use of the hydrant, of means providing an outlet drain passage for said water from the casing; and a valve for normally closing said passage and operative due to the pressure of said water to move into an open position to permit said water to drain through said passage; substantially as described.

2. The combination'with a hydrant having a casing in which water remains after use of the hydrant, of means providing an outlet drain passage for said water from the casing, said means including a bafiie forming a pocket and extending upwardly at an incline into said casing from said pas sage, said casing providing a main passageway for the water upwardly through said hydrant; substantially as described.

3. The combination with a hydrant having a casing in which water remains after use of the hydrant, of a valve casing pro viding a passage communicating with the interior of said casing; an upright branch passage in said valve casing communicating with said first passage; and a valve for closing said branch passage and having an upright valve rod thereon, said valve casing including a drain duct and valve seat normally closed by" said valve rod, said first valve having an area exposed to said branch passage sufficient to permit the pressure or said water to raise the valve rod from its seat to permit said water to drain through said duct; substantially as described.

4. The combination with a hydrant having a casing in which water remains after use of the hydrant, of a valve casing providing a passage communicating with the interior of said casing; an upright branch passage in said valve casing communicating with said first passage, said casing having a valve adapted to sit upon the top of said casing and having a valve rod depending through said branch passage; a cap detachably connected to said valve casing and forming a space above said valve, said valve casing having a drain duct; and a valve seat below said branch passage and against which said valve rod is adapted to normally sit, said first valve having an area exposed to said branch passage sufficient to permit the pressure of said water to raise the valve rod from its seat to permit said water to drain through said duct; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A LEON T. BUCKLER.

Witnesses:

ELIZABETH GARBE, CHAS. E. Po'rrs. 

